Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-05-21
SHE,
N.HiStor1> Of: HdVehture
BY J. RIDER HAGGARD.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE FEAST, AND AFTER.


THE FEAST, AND AFTER!
On the day following this remarkable
scene, a scene calculated to make deep inn
preston upon anybody who beheld it, more
because of what it suggested and seemed to
than for what it revealed, it was
announced to us that feast would be held
that evening in our honor. ! did my best to
get out of it, saying that we were modest
people, and cared little for feasts, but my re-
marks being received with tho silence of dis
pleasure, thought is wisest to hold my
tongue.
Accordingly, Just before shutdown, was
informed that everything WAS ready, and, &c
companied by Job, went into tho cave, where
met Leo, who was, as usual, followed by
Ustane These two had been out walking
somewhere, and knew nothing of the pro-
jected festivity till that moment, When
Ustane heard it l saw an expression Of horror
spring upon her handsome features. Turn
ing, she caught man who was passing up
the cave by the arm, and asked him some
thing in an imperiolis tone. His answer
seemed to reassure her a little, for she looked
relieved, though far from satisfied. Next she
appeared to attempt some remonstrance with
the man, who was person in authority, but
he spoke angrily to her, and shook her off,
and then changing his mind, led her by the
arm, and sat her down between himself and
another man In the circle round the fire, and
Iperceived that for sono reason Of her own
she thought it best to submit
The fire in the cave was an unusually big
one that night, and In large circle round it
were gathered about tkirty-tlve men and two
women, Ustane and the woman to avoid
whom Job had played the role of another
Scriptural character The men were sitting
in perfect silence, as was their custom, each
with his great spear stuck upright behind him
in socket cut in the rock for that purpose
Only one or two wore the yellowish linen gar
mont Of which have spoken; the rest had
nothing Oh except the leopards skin about the
middle.
whats up now, rr said job, doubtfully.
"Bless us and save us, there's that woman
againl Now surely she can't be after me,
seeing that | have given her no encourage
ment They give me the creeps, the whole
lot Of them, and that's q fact. Why, look,
they have asked Mahomed to dine, too. There,
that lady of mine is talking to him in as nice
a
isn't me, that's ALL"
We looked up, and sure enough, the woman
in question had risen, and was escorting the
wretch Mahomed from the corner, where,
overcome by some acute prescience OF horror,
he had been seated, shivering, and calling on
Allah. He appeared unwilling enough to
come, IL for no other reason, perhaps, because
it was an unaccustomed honor, for hitherto
his food he'd been given to him apart. Any
way, | could see that he was in q state OF
great terror, for his tottering legs would
scarcely support his stout, bulky foIn, and l
think it was rather owing to the resources Of
barbarism behind him, in the shape of Q huge
Amahagger with a proportionately huge
spear, than to the seduction of the lady who
led him by the hand, that he consented TO
come at all.
"Well," said to the others, II don't at oil
like the look of things, but suppose that we
must face it out. Have you follows got your
revolvers onl because, if SO, you had better
see that they are loaded"
Il have, sir" said job, tapping his Colt,
Abut Mr.. Leo has only got his hunting knife,
/ though that is big enough, surely
J Feeling that 1t would not do to wait while
4 tho missing weapon was fetched we advanced
boldly, and seated ourselves in line, with
our backs against the side of the cave.
As soon as we were seated, an earthenware
Jar was passed round containing fermented
fluid, Of by no means unpleasant taste, though
apt 10 turn upon the stomach, made Of
crushed grain--not Indian corn, but a small
brown gain that grows upon the stem Il